week 19 // you are my wild

She might be one of the few who are not looking forward to saying goodbye to teachers or burning school papers.  Her heart was always into the start of a new day.  She learned this year that showers were best had in the morning.  10 hours of tossing and turning in her sleep made for the messiest curls, "but you wouldn't understand, Mom.  No one in this family understands what it's like to have curly hair", she'd say with a sigh, simultaneously petting her own tendrils.  There were night rituals too- picking out clothes and underwear, lying them flat on the top of her dresser, setting her matching shoes beneath.  She did not like those mornings when Terry or I slept 10 minutes later than we should've, which in turn made her rush.  This was the girl who enjoyed a slower pace, an episode of Spongebob, and avocado toast + side of orange juice in the morning thankyouverymuch.  As each person piled into the car, she'd inevitably be the only one who'd remember the order for drop-off.  "Everyday, Fiona, you NEED to sit on the right side.  Every.  Day."  Exasperated.  And every afternoon she'd be the first one off the bus, talking to me before even setting foot on the sidewalk.  "Mom.  Today the CRAZIEST thing happened."  Everyday.  The craziest.  

This is the first year she made a best friend who lives walking distance from our house.  This was the year she admitted she secretly wanted a purple cast on her arm, just like her friend Riley.  This was the year she decided she likes boys a little itty bitty bit more than last year.  Especially if they're blonde.  (?)  This was the year that she learned to do a split.  (This was the year we humored her and pretended like she wasn't doing something shy of a split).  This was the year she discovered that egg salad was private food, and would rather eat the less delicious pbj sandwich to avoid any heckling from classmates who may not like the smell of egg salad. This was the year she went to NYC for the first time and couldn't wait to tell her teacher about it.  This was the year that she pored over her first chapter book.  This was the year that math began to make to sense.  This was the year she did a video presentation (along with all of her classmates) for all the moms & dads... "I love my Dad because he's as strong as a hippo, he wakes up at 1:00 am to jumprope" (cue impressed looks from other dads) "and because he's as handsome as Justin Timberly".  (Justin Timberlake.  And he does not wake up at 1:00 am to jumprope).  "And I love my mom because she's there for me when my dad is not."  ???  (Cue worried looks on all the parents' faces).  This was the year she grew over 3" taller and jumped an entire shoe size.  

Next week first grade will already be a thing of the past.

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